Wind Turbine Pollution

Wind turbines are a source of noise emissions and light pollution.

Noise emissions may be heard, felt, or may not be sensed. Some are in the audible range and those are regulated by Mass. DEP guidelines. Some are in the low frequency range and may be heard. Infrasound is below the level of sound that people can hear, but studies show it may do damage to internal organs and it can be measured.

Light pollution occurs in the form of strobing (what wind proponents dismiss by calling it “shadow flicker”) or from aircraft warning lights mounted on the towers.

Details about these types of pollution can be found in:

• Acoustics and wind turbine noise by Chris Kapsambelis https://windwisema.org/concerns-unresolved-wntag/
• Wind Turbine Noise Complaint Predictions Made Easy by Steve Ambrose and Rob Rand

Noise testing was a subject of the Wind and Noise Technical Advisory Group (WNTAG). Concerns about the issues raised–and not resolved–continue. These are noted in:

• Concerns Unresolved following WNTAG Discussions by Chris Kapsambelis
• Noise Testing Protocol offered at WNTAG by Chris Kapsambelis

Noise testing is scrutinized in:

• Hoosac Wind Sound Monitoring Report by Chris Kapsambelis
• Hoosac Wind turbine  sound monitoring by Chris Kapsambelis, who noticed a decline in the production numbers during the testing.

Noise testing done on some turbines in three communities–Falmouth, Fairhaven and Kingston–found that the turbines are in violation of the DEP’s  noise pollution regulations.

• Two Reports Confirm Noise Violations: Fairhaven and Kingston
• Mass. moves to shut turbine over noise levels (Falmouth)–The Boston Globe